Soap chip dispenser



' May 16, 1944.. R M, STORER y 2,349,017

SOAP CHIP DI SPENSER Filed March 5, r1942 FIG. 7.

Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED STAT EISv PATENT OF FICE SOAP DISBEN SER RichardV M. Storex', Denver, Colo.

Application March5, 1942,.S.erial.No. 433,483

11 Claims.

This invention relatesto a device for producing chips orflakes .from -bar soap, and more particularly relates to a device of this characterthat is specially suited for household use.

While chips or flakes are now available on the market in convenient packages for household use, the cost of a given quantity of such packaged soap is substantially greater than the cost of an equivalent weight of bar soap in acorresponding grade.

It is an object of the presentinvention to `provide a device that can be utilized to produce chips or akes ofrsoap from bar soap in a size suited for rapid dissolution lor dispersion throughout a liquid body in which they are deposited.

Another object of `the invention is to provide a device which is capable of producing `a :substantially uniform sizedsoap ,flake :product vover long periods of operation despite substantial :variations in thesize, composition and moisture content of the soap `bars from which such akes are produced.

A further object of the invention is theprovision of a simple, durable and relatively inexpensive .device that :is positively and easily Aoper-- ated by personsnot having special ,mechanical knowledge.

Stillganother object of the invention is the provisioninfa :device .of this character of a cutter member/havingga self-cleaning action.

A fstillgfurther object of theinvention istthe provision of a device :for v.producing soap `lia-kes from :bars that-is uniformlyxefcient in the :treatment -of soap bars varying swidely in size Aand quantity.

Other objects reside in novel details of con struction and V novel combinations and arrangements of parts, ,all lol which `will `.appear more :fullyin the course of Vthe :following description.

.To alord a better understanding Lof vthe rinvention, reference is made to the :accompanying drawing illustrating a typical embodiment of the invention, and in the drawing Lin` the several views of 'which like'parts have been vdesignated similarly,

Figure V1,is .a bottom :plan View, V:partially section, :of :a device Vembodying VAthe :features tof the present invention;

Figure 2 is .a side :elevation :of fthe .device :of Figure 1, partially broken :away .totshow .the interio-r :mechanism:

Figure 3 is .asectiion ttakenalong the line ,r3-f3, Figure I2;

'Figure el .is va section taken :alon'gzthe line '5L-11, Figure 2, and drawn to an ,enlarged :scale:

'Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken-along the line 5-r5/of rFigure y4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section ktaken ,along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;,and

Figure 7 is an end view of one of the vcutter blades `illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

The 4device `illustrated Ain the drawing Accmprises a casing 8 open at one end as indicated ati), for the .reception of a bar of soap and having its opposite end closed by a cutter member I8. After a bar of soap has been inserted in the casing through open end 9, a closure member I2 Ais inserted `in the casing to urge `the .bar of soap I 3 against cutter member I II.

AThis'closure-member I2 comprises agplate .-I2a carrying socket members `I4 in which springurged pins I5 are supported for extension through aseries of openings I8 in casing 8. Movement of the pins I5 to a retracted position may be effected through manual `actuation of grips ,Il connected therewith. A spring I8, preferably a .coil spring, :is mounted on plate I2a and..bears against another plate I9 substantially corresponding to the interior size of casing 8 hbut slightly spaced therefrom.

Casing 8 is apertured, vas indicated at v120 in Figure 3, and a narrow slot 2| extends intotliis apertured portion at right angles to its lengthwise axis. A pin 22 mounted on an `angle plate 23 carries externally of casing 8 a'knurled knob 2li permitting adjustment of plate 23 to diierent selective positions within casing '8 in engaging relation to the bar of soap I3.

Such adjustment is further facilitated by provision of a recess 25 in plate `I9 permitting its extension in `close proximity to cutter IIJ, even when angle plate 23 is 'moved to its extreme position away from the wall of casing 8. To prevent tilting of angle plate 23, a portion of said plate is bent to form lugs 32 tted in `slot 2| for sliding movement, but holding the sameagainst movement away from the wall of casing 8.

nCutter member Il) comprises a frameZBtm'ounted -for sliding oscillatory. movement along, anged ends 21 of casing 8, and such oscillatory movement is controlled throughactuation .of acrank assembly 28. The frame .atlitssides has aseries of substantially Ytriangular -shaped recesses r29 `(Figure 6) and .a series .of `cutter.bla'des 38 are disposed .in such recesses throughout the' length of frame 26. As best seen-in Figure 4 ,thefcutter blades v30 -areof a corrugated or undulating lcontour having recessed cutting edges 30a and adjoining projecting portions 30D, the 4reverseside pressure.

of which is recessed as indicated at 39e in Figure 4.

In assembling the cutter blades, a staggered arrangement is employed, as best illustrated in Figure 5, in which the surfaces 39a of one cutter blade will be alined with the projections 39h of the next succeeding blade in the series to bring recesses 30o in register therewith. As illustrated in Figures and "I, the ends of the cutter members 30 terminate in flattened portions 3I and these portions 3l are loosely tted in recesses 29, due to the shape of the latter, to permit angular movement therein. As illustrated in Figure 1, this assembly of cutter members is arranged to form a honeycomb pattern of discharge passages for the cut soap.

With this arrangement, movement imparted to frame by crank assembly 23 in a direction transverse to the bar of soap I3 being pressed against blades by spring-urged plate member I9, will cause a turning of blade members 30 which brings the cutting surfaces 39a into downwardly inclined engagement with the surface of soap I3 in the direction of movement of frame 26.

When the frame has reached its furthermost position under actuation by the crank and commences its return movement in the oscillatory cycle, the blades 30 again reverse their positions by rotation of portions 3| within recesses 29 and the forward cutting surfaces 39a. are again downwardly inclined into the bar of soap I3.

The device hereinbefore described is intended primarily for household usage and can be operated readily when the user holds the casing in one hand and operates the crank assembly 28 with the other hand. When so operated, the device may be conveniently transported from one location to another wherever its use is required.

However, it will be understood that when desired the casing may be more or less permanently located by attachment to a Wall bracket or other suitable device in any selected position of use.

Because of the adjustments provided, soap of various sized bars may be effectively treated in the device. When a bar is selected for use, it is inserted through open end 9 of the casing after which plate member I2 is inserted through opening 9 and moved to a. position in which plate I9 is exerting considerable pressure against the bar of soap. The operator thereupon releases pressure against grips I1 allowing pins I5 to project through whatever alined openings I6 are adjacent thereto, and until suflicient soap has been removed from the end of bar I3 by the cutting action, further adjustment of closure member I2 will not be required.

If the bar of soap I3 thus inserted is of a size permitting lateral movement within casing 8, angle plate 23 is moved through loosening of knurled knob 24 to a position in which it bears rmly against the cake of soap I3 and holds its opposite surface in contact with the wall of vcasing. When so positioned, knob 24 is tightened.

' After this loading operation has been completed, the device is adapted for a considerable period of use without further adjustment and it will be apparent that whenever plate member I9 ceases to exert adequate pressure against the bar of soap I3, an adjustment of the position of suchplate can be effected in the manner described, to again exert the desired degree of While such pressure is being exerted, actuation of the crank assembly 28 will cause the oscillating movement of frame 25 previously described, with the cutting surfaces of blade members 30 moving across the surface of soap I3 in a direction transverse to its lengthwise axis, with the cutting surfaces disposed at an inclination to such surface of the soap.

The resulting action causes the cut soap to pass through the spaces between cutter members 39 in flakes of relatively fine thickness. These flakes are relatively long in comparison with their width and thickness and tend to curl, causing them to break freely from the portions being cut after they have assumed a length 'of from one-fourth inch to one inch.

The repeated turning of the blades resulting from changes in direction of frame 26 in its oscillating action, further facilitates discharge of the cut portions and exerts a self-cleaning action on the cutter assembly which is particularly advantageous when the device is operating on soap of relatively high moisture content which otherwise might tend to wedge in the spaces between the blades and impair continued operation.

Likewise, the provision of recesses 30e at the trailing edge of cutter members 30 serves to ridge the soap between the cuts being made at the forward edge, and due to the staggered ar rangement of cutting surfaces on successivecutter members, the ridge sol produced is removed by the next succeeding cutting surface.

While the undulating cutting surfaces illus trated in the drawing are a preferred embodiment, the turning and tilting of cutter blades 39 alone is sucient to produce an adequate cut- "ting and cleaning action.

Changes and modifications may be availed'of within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

1. A device of the character described, comprising a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member providing a closure for a side of the container, means associated with the container for pressing a cake of soap therein against said cutter member said soap pressing means and' said cutter member cooperating to discharge cut soap from the container, said cutter member comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, cutters hav' ing discharge openings for the lateral discharge of cut soap therebetween, each such cutter having forward cutting surfaces penetratingthecake of soap in each direction of travel of 'the cutter member, and means for changing the angular position of said cutters during each change'in direction in the oscillatory cycle of the cutter member to effect the soap penetration by'said forward cutting surfaces. f

2. A device of the character described, comprising a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member providing a closure for aside of the container, means associated with-the c'ontainer for pressing a cake of soap therein against said cutter member said soap pressing means and said cutter member cooperating to discharge cut soap from the container, means in the container for holding the soap bar against movement transversely of the container, said cutter member comprising a plurality of spaced-apart cutters having discharge openings for the lateral discharge of cut soap therebetween, each such cutter having forward' cutting surfaces penetrating the cake of soap-in each .-directionfof travel of the .cutter member, 'andmeans for changing the iangular position of said cutters during each changein direction in the oscillatory cycle of the cutter :member-:to .effectthe soap penetration byrsaid forward cutting surfaces. f

3. -A-deviceofthe character described, comprising a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member providing a closure for a side of the container, means associated with the container for pressing a cake of soap therein against said cutter member said soap pressing means and said cutter member cooperating to discharge cut soap from the container, adjustable means within the container mounted for movement to selective positions of engagement with said soap bar to hold the same against movement transversely of the container, said cutter member comprising a plurality of spacedapart cu-tters having discharge openings for the lateral discharge of cut soap therebetween, each such cutter having forward cutting surfaces penetrating the cake of soap in each direction of travel of the cutter member, and means for changing the angular position of said cutters during each change in direction in the oscillatory cycle of the cutter member to effect the soap penetration by said cutting surfaces.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member providing a closure for a side of the container, means associated with the container for pressing a cake of soap therein against said cutter member said soap pressing means and said cutter member cooperating to discharge cut soap from the container, said cutter member comprising a plurality of spacedapart tiltable cutters having discharge openings for the lateral discharge of cut soap therebetween, each such cutter having undulating cutting surfaces penetrating the cake of soap in each direction of travel of the cutter member, and means for tilting said cutters during each change in direction in the oscillatory cycle of the cutter member to incline the forward undulating surfaces downwardly as they penetrate the soap.

5. A device of the character described, ccmprising a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member providing a closure for a side of the container, means associated with the container for pressing a cake of soap therein against said cutter member said soap pressing means and said cutter member cooperating to discharge cu-t soap from the container, said cutter member comprising a plurality of spacedapart tiltable cutters having discharge openings for the lateral discharge of cut. soap therebetween, each such cutter having double-edged cutting surfaces with the leadingedge thereof penetrating the cake of soap, and means for tilting said leading edges into soap penetrating relation during each change in direction in the oscillatory cycle of the cutter member.

6. A device of the character described, comprising an elongated container for a cake of soap, a cutter member mounted for limited oscillatory movement at the end of the container transversely of its lengthwise axis and providing a closure for said end of the container, means associated with the container for urging a cake of soap therein toward said cutter member, said soap pressing means and said cut-ter member cooperating to discharge cut soap from the container, said cutter member comprising a plurality of spaced-apart cutters having discharge openings for fthe lateral discharge of cut soap therebetween,.eachfhavingforward cutting surfaces penetrating the cake of soap in each direction of travel ofthe cutter member, mechanism connected -withthe cutter member "to impart oscillatory movement thereto, :and mea-ns responsive to each change in direction in the oscillatory cycle of the cutter member for rocking the cutters to a position in which said forward cutting surfaces penetrate the soap.

'7. A device of the character described, comprising a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member providing a closure fo'r a side of the container, means for pressing a cake of soap in the container into said cutter member, said soap pressing means and said cutter member cooperating to discharge cut soap from the container, said cutter mem-ber including tiers of cutters constructed and arranged to provide a honeycomb pattern of cutting surfaces penetrating the cake of soap and having discharge openings for the late-ral discharge of cut soap between the tiers, and means cooperative with said cutters for changing the angular position of each tier in each direction of the oscillatory movement to effect soap penetration during opposed movements in the oscillatory cycle.

8. In a device of the character described, including a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member mounted on the container in contacting relation to the soap and comprising an open frame formed of side members and end members, said side members having a series of substantially triangular-shape recesses therein arranged in cooperative, alined pairs, and a plurality of spaced cutter members supported by the frame member, each cutter member having attened portions at its opposite endstted for turning movement in an alined pair of said recesses, and double-edged cutting surfaces intermediate said iiattened ends.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member providing a closure at an end of the container, means including a coil spring associated With the container for pressing a cake of soap therein against said cutter member, said cutter member cornprising a plurality of spaced-apart cutters having discharge openings for the lateral discharge of cut soap therebetween, each such cutter having forward cutting surfaces penetrating the cake of soap in each direction of travel of the cutter member, and means for changing the angular position of said cutters during each change in direction in the oscillatorir cycle of the cutter member to effect soap penetration by different cutting surface with each said change in the cycle.

10. In a device of the character described, including a container for a cake of soap, an oscillatory cutter member mounted on the container in contacting relation to the soap and comprising an open rectangular frame formed of side members and end members, said side members having a series of substantially triangularshaped recesses therein arranged in cooperative alined pairs, and a plurality of spaced cutter members supported by the frame member as a rectangular closure for said open end of the frame, each cutter member having flattened portions at its opposite ends tted for turning movement in an alined pair of said recesses, and double-edged cutting surfaces intermediate said attened ends.

.11. In a device of the characterdescribed, a soap cutting element comprising a succession of elongated soap cutters arranged in tiers in closely spaced lrelation, for oscillatory cutting movement across an exposed surface of a cake of soap in said device, each cutter having a plurality of spaced cutting surfaces at intervals throughout its length and raised portions disposed in the spaces between adjoining cutting surfacesv of each cutter, said cutters being mounted for limited rotation to bring diierent cutting surfaces in engagement with the soap in each change in direction of said oscillatory movement.

RICHARD M. STORER. 

